. france, at the time, claimed all of canada, the lands around the great lakes, the lands around, on either side of the ohio and mississippi river valleys, down to the gulf of mexico. in 1753, the governor of virginia sent a young major named george washington, and most americans don't know this story. the governor of virginia sent 21-year-old major george washington to fort ducane, a french fort that sat on the site of present day pittsburgh, before the steelerrings -- steelers started playing football there. washington ordered french to leave. french refused. in the following spring, washington returned with troops and attacked. again, most americans don't know the story, but washington fired the first shot in what became the world's first true world war. his attack on the french in the western pennsylvania wilderness grew into a global conflict lasting seven years, involve england, franch, austria, russia, prussia, and dozen other nations fighting for control over colonies in north america, africa, asia, and the seas in between. the seven years war changed the map of the world shifting n
